Chess Puzzle #1CzYn — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1119 · Beginner · crushing, middlegame, pin, short.

Position

White: king g2; queen c5; rook a1; bishop c1; knight b1; pawns a2/b2/c2/e4/h3. Black: king c7; queen f6; rooks a8/h8; bishop c8; pawns a6/b7/d7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kd8 — king c7→d8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Bg5 — bishop c1→g5. Opponent replies Qxg5+ (queen f6→g5, captures bishop, gives check).
  3. Best move: Qxg5+ — queen c5→g5, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, pin, short. The key move Qxg5+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1b4r/1pkp3p/p4q2/2Q5/4P3/7P/PPP3K1/RNB5 b - - 1 20

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Puzzle data from the Lichess puzzle database (CC0). Analysis powered by Stockfish 18 in your browser.